Accessory devices, systems, and methods for medicine administration and tracking

Abstract

An accessory for use with a medicine delivery device includes a body configured to attach to a medicine delivery device and a user interface disposed on the body and configured to communicate information to a user. In aspects, the user interface includes first and second lights configured to be selectively illuminated and a first symbol associated with the first light. The first light and the first symbol together indicate an action to be performed when the first light is illuminated. In aspects, the user interface includes red, yellow, and green lights configured to be illuminated in sequential time periods after a dose using the medicine delivery device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An accessory for use with a medicine delivery device, the accessory comprising:
 a body configured to attach to the medicine delivery device; and 
 a user interface disposed on the body and configured to communicate information to a user, the user interface including:
 a first light configured to be selectively illuminated; 
 a first symbol associated with the first light, the first symbol depicting a medicine delivery device performing a medicine delivery action, wherein the first light and the first symbol together indicate that it is safe to perform the medicine delivery action using the medicine delivery device when the first light is illuminated; and 
 a second light configured to be selectively illuminated. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The accessory according to  claim 1 , wherein the first light is a green light and the second light is a red light. 
     
     
       3. The accessory according to  claim 1 , wherein the user interface further includes a second symbol associated with the second light, the second light and the second symbol together providing an indication. 
     
     
       4. The accessory according to  claim 3 , wherein the second light is a red light and the second symbol is a stop symbol such that, when the red light is illuminated, the indication is to stop and not proceed with using the medicine delivery device. 
     
     
       5. The accessory according to  claim 1 , wherein the body is configured to releasably attached to the medicine delivery device. 
     
     
       6. The accessory according to  claim 5 , wherein the body is a cap configured to releasably cover a dispensing end of the medicine delivery device. 
     
     
       7. The accessory according to  claim 6 , further comprising at least one detector disposed within the body and configured to detect at least one of attachment of the cap with the medicine delivery device or detachment of the cap from the medicine delivery device. 
     
     
       8. The accessory according to  claim 1 , wherein the user interface further includes a third light configured to be selectively illuminated. 
     
     
       9. The accessory according to  claim 8 , wherein the first light is a green light, the second light is a red light indicating it is not safe to use the medicine delivery device to dose, and the third light is a yellow light indicating proceed with caution. 
     
     
       10. An accessory for use with a medicine delivery device, the accessory comprising:
 a body configured to attach to the medicine delivery device; 
 an electronics unit disposed within the body, the electronics unit configured to at least one of receive or determine, with respect to a prior dose at time t 0 , each of: a first time t 1  after which it is safe to dose, a second time t 2  before which it is not safe to dose, and a time period P that is defined from second time t 2  to first time t 1  and represents when it is not recommended to dose but when dosing is acceptable; and 
 a user interface disposed on the body in communication with the electronics unit, the user interface including a green light, a red light, and a yellow light, the electronics unit configured to control the user interface to:
 illuminate the red light between time t 0  and time t 2 ; 
 extinguish the red light and illuminate the yellow light at time t 2 ; 
 maintain the yellow light for time period P from time t 2  to time t 1 ; and 
 extinguish the yellow light and illuminate the green light at time t 1 . 
 
 
     
     
       11. The accessory according to  claim 10 , wherein the electronics unit is further configured to control the user interface to maintain the green light from time t 1  until a subsequent dose is logged. 
     
     
       12. The accessory according to  claim 10 , wherein the times t 0 , t 1 , and t 2  are relative times or clock times. 
     
     
       13. The accessory according to  claim 10 , wherein the body is a cap configured to releasably cover a dispensing end of the medicine delivery device. 
     
     
       14. The accessory according to  claim 13 , further comprising at least one detector disposed within the body and configured to detect at least one of attachment of the cap with the medicine delivery device or detachment of the cap from the medicine delivery device. 
     
     
       15. The accessory according to  claim 14 , wherein the electronics unit is configured to determine or receive a determination that a dose from the medicine delivery device has occurred based at least upon at least one of an attachment of the cap or a detachment of the cap. 
     
     
       16. The accessory according to  claim 15 , wherein the determination that a dose from the medicine delivery device has occurred is further based upon which light is illuminated. 
     
     
       17. The accessory according to  claim 16 , wherein no determination that a dose from the medicine delivery device has occurred is made despite the at least one of attachment of the cap or detachment of the cap when the red light is illuminated. 
     
     
       18. The accessory according to  claim 15 , wherein the determination that a dose from the medicine delivery device has occurred is made based upon the at least one of attachment of the cap or detachment of the cap and other criteria when either the green light or the yellow light is illuminated. 
     
     
       19. The accessory according to  claim 18 , wherein the criteria when the green light is illuminated are different from the criteria when the yellow light is illuminated.